Stringed instrument



l, 1,7 4 June 7 1927 R. A. cARLUccl 63 9 STRINGED INSTRUMENT Filed June 9, 1924 Sheets-Sheet l l /gy ATTO NEY l June 7, 1927. 1,631,794

R. A. CARLUCCI l STRI NGED INSTRUMENT Filed June 9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AZ5 f3 i 3f 36 INVENTOR famo/7 Carlucaz ATTORNEY v Patented June '7, 1927.

UNTED STATES l.ROCCO A. CARLUCCI, O? WEST NEVI YQRK, NEW" JERSEY.

STRINGED INSTRUMENT.

Application led June 9,

This invention relates to stringed instruments and particularly to what are lrnown as banjos; and the object of the invention is to provide an improved fram construction for instruments of the cless specified whereby the greatest tone volume may be produced, and also whereby a clear and distinct tone may be produced; a i her object of the invention beingl to provide an all metallic mounting for the parclnneut or vellum of the instrument whereby the most desirable banjo tones can be produced; a further object being to provide an improved shape or form to what is lrnown as the rim of the banjo and particularly to banjos of the resonator type; and with these anc other objects in view the inif'ention coi .y s in an instrument of the class and for the purpose specified which is simple in construction, efficient in use and which constructed as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable ref-ere; ce characters in each of the views, and in which z- Fig. l isa perspective view of a banjo made according,` to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in l, parts being brolien away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the lino 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a partial section on the line iL-4 of Fig. 2 and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the part of a modified forni of the frame construction;

Fig. .7 is e section ou the line i-Z' of Fig. G; l

Fig. S is a plan View of another part of the frame construction in Fig. 6;

9 is a section on the line F ig. 8;

l is u section on the line lU-l() of Fig. o,

Fig. ll is a View similar to Figs. (i and 8 but showing another part of the frame construction; and7 Fig. l2 is a sectional detail view of another form of frame which l may employ; and,I

Fig. l2a is a partial sectional view similar to the section shown in Fig. but f 1924. Serial No. 718,743.

the modified .form of construction shown in Fing. l2.

in the drawing l have shown for the purpose of illustration, one method of carrying my invention into effect, a banjo l5 of thev resonator typeand in F 1 of the drz-iwing l have indicated at 16 the usual fingerboard over which the strings 17 are passed, said strings beine secured to the tail piece i8 at one end and passed over the bridge 19 adjacent to said tail piece, and the tension or tune of which are controlled by the rotaryY adjustable tuningmembers 2O at the free end of the finger-board. The shank 21 of the linger-board is reduced and extends into the framework or rim 22 of the instrument in the usual manner.

My invention consists primarily in the construction of the frame or rim 22 and the several parts mounted in connection therewith or cooperating` therewith. said parts including the parchment or vellum 23 and resonator or sound-board 24.

in the construction shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, the frame or rim 22 is composed of a rim or body member 25 preferably composed of the wood usually employed for this purpose and, in practice, I provide the outer face of the rim or body 25 with vertically arranged and circumferentially spaced recesses 2G which are arc-shaped or semiecircular in form in cross section in the construction sliown, and mounted on the rim 25 is a sheet metal facing; member 27 which forms a facing or covering` for the outer face of the rim 25 and is fashioned to litand conform with the contour of the periphery of said rim or provided with somicircular portions 2T as clearly shown in Fig. of the drawing'. The member 2T may be made from un elongated strip of sheet metal fashioned into substantially corrugated forn'iation to tit snugly within and over the contour of the rim 25, and the ends of which terminate where the linger-board passes through the rim 25. The member 27 is secured in position by a number of screws 28 passed through the arc-shaped portions thereof and into the rim 25, and the rim 25 and member 27 constitute the frame or rim of the banjo in connection with which the associated parts are mounted.

As above sta the shank 2l of the linger-board hrough the frame 22 or the said member being; pro 'ture for this purlv pose, as clearly shownv in Fig. 3 ol the drawing, and the inner end ol the shank 2l extends into a bracket 30 and is held therein by a screw 31 in the usual or any desired manner, and the shank is also reinforced and rigidly tiXed in position by a screw 32 which passesl through a bracket 33 and into said shank where the shank passes through the aperture 29. Mounted upon the top peripheral portion of the trame 22 is a body ringT 34 ot comparatively thin metal, and this ring;r passes over the projecting portions 25' oil the rim 25 formed by the recesses 26 and the portions ot' the. facingr member 2T which pass over said projections 25 are'cut out to receive the ring 34 and to limit the down ard movement thereof by reason ol shoulders Se. one ol" which is shown in Fig. 4 ot' the drawing,y and said shoulders serve to hold the body ring' 34 in proper position with the upper end thereof projecting a predetermined dis ance above the trame 22 or the member 25 thereo.

The body ring 4 terms one part ol a parchment or vellum support, the other part being in the torni of a tension ring 36 oli greater diameter than the body ring 34 and havinpr a peripheral groove 37 in the tace thereof, which groove is recessed as shown at to receive hook-shaped ends o't tension rods or bolts 89.

The parchment or vellum 23 is beaded in the periphery thereot' in the usual way and provided with a skin hoop 4t) within said bead, and the parchment is placed between the body ring 34 and tension ring 36 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 ot the drawing in supporting the same in proper position and in placing the same under tension. The parchment 23 is mounted upon the usual tone resonance ring 4l positioned inwardly et the body ring 84 and tension ring 36, and mounted upon and spaced above the trame said ring having a plurality ot pins 42 which pass into the traine 22 and the top tace ot the trame is provided with spaced supporting members 43 upon which the tone ring 4l The periphery ol the lower end portion o'l the iframe or the rim thereof where the projections are located is recessed to permit ot the passage ot a horizontal ring member 44 thereover and to bear against the shouliilcrs formed by said recess, and by cutting; away that portion olE the member 2T which would normally cover the recessed portions o't' the projecting'y lmcnibers 25a as clearly shown in Fig. 4 ot the drawine.

Then the ring member 44 is placed in position a plurality ot screws or bolts 46 are passed outwardly through the frame 22 and engage nut members 47 mounted in juX- taposition to and bearing on the lower faces of the ring member 44 to retain the same in proper position, and the nut members 47 seat The horizontal ringY member 4t jnojects beyond the trame .2 parchment mounted on the traine to .torni a siu'g-jiiort l'or the resonator 24 and is preterably pwvideiji with circumtercutially spared apertures Ll-tl ol any ornamci'ital shape or torni through which the sound trom the resomitor is tree to pars. The ring member 44 sets in a recessed portion 24 ot the regonator and rests upon a cushion 24" on the shoulder formed by the recess 24, 'lwo or more brackets 5() are recul-cd to the resonator in spaced relation in f onnectiem with which headed screws or bolts 5l are mounted. the heads ot said screws or bolts passing through the apertures 45) in the ring meniber 4t and cooperating with said ring' to lock the rez-.1.onator in position. as clearly illustrz'itcd in Figs. 2 and 5 ot the drawing.

lVith the term oit construction above described, it will be noted that the parchment or vellum has an all metallic mountingr in connection with the rim or 'traine 22 which is desirable in instruments ol: the class shown and describeth and it will also be noted that by providing the circumferential spaced recess in the periphery ot the vtrame. 22 a greater volume of tone may be passed from the resonator outwardly through the chambers tormed by the recesses in said Ytrame than would be the case it said recesses were not employed.y and by reason ot this construction the volume. as well as the clearness is materially improved and, iu addition, to the utility and j' acticability ot the reces;-es in the -trame 22 a very neat attriu'tive and .finished appearance is provided to the complete instrument, the concave recess representing tubular iliormations about the periphery ol' the banjo lrame and appezuinpr above the resonator, the projecting members 25"* ot the rim being covered by the usual tension bolts 39.

The construction ot the `trame above describe-fl will be very stronler and durable and by reason ot the tact that a strip of substantially the same .width throughout may be employed in forming the facing! member 2T the cost of manufacture thereof is simplitied and the cost is not prohibitive, and while the term ot construction above desc Abed is a vast improvement over the present type of frame or rim construction as well as l'myond thc llt) from the standpoint oic the tone ot the instrument primarily, this can further be iinproved.

ln Figs. 6 to ll inclusive have shown a modi'li'catioii iii which l substitute tor the i'iin 22 and the riiii 25 and ineinber 27 thereo'i", an all sheet metal trame or riin 52 which is composed of a comparatively heavy strip oit sheet metal fashioned to torni a ringshaped body havingv circuii'iterentially spaced concave-convex portion 53, the concave 'tacos being` directed outwardly and being subdivided by spaced rib members 54:, the outer 'faces of Which are recessed at the top thereof as shown at 55 in Fig. 9 ot the drawing', and at the bottoni thereotI as shown at 56 in said ligure, the ring 341 being ada ated to be placed in the recesses 55 While the horizontal ring member lll is adapted to be placed in the recesses 5G. ln other .vords, instead of employing` a frame composed of a Wooden ring' member and a thin sheet metal tacing 27, the entire 'traine is composed ot' sheet metal which is fashioned to provide the proper seats and bearings for the rings 3l and fle. l'lith this construction the bolts 39,46 as vvell as the nuts and i8 are mounted in the same relative position as in the construction shown in Figs. l to 5 iiiclusive.

lith the construction shown in Figs. G to ll, the tone ring 41 is mounted in position and spaced above the traine 52 by pins 57 mounted in connection vvith the tone ring el at spaced intervals, and the pin 57 being` recessed as shown at 58 to engage the concave faces ot the 'traine 52, or the members 53 thereof, and the pins 57 Will opeiate to properly space and centei the ringl il in position. I

he mounting' o't' the. shank 2l oi.E the linger-board in and to the traine maj.7 be accomplished in any desired manner but. in Figs. 6, 7. and 8, I have shown one method of accomplishing' this result and in Figs. G and 7 l have shown a bracket 59 welded or otherwise secured to the it'ran'ie 52 and through which the shank 2l is passed and secured by the screw 32, and in Fig'. il l have shoivn av bracket 60 to receive the cud .o'l the shank 2i and with which said shank may be coupled and the bracket (SO welded or otherwise secured to the 'traine 52.

lith the construction shown in Fipgs. (l to l1 inclusive. it will be apparent that the only obstruction to the sound viliratious coming' from the resonator ivill be the thickness oi" the taine or rim 52 thus proi'lueiuo' the greatest possible volume and clearance ot' tone in that all ot the wood structure oi" the traine has been omitted, this construction will also prevent the warping' oi the frame which has been experienced in instruments of this class, and by reason Ot the fact that the trame 52 may be fashioned from sheet metal the production and cost of iiianutacturing the trame ot iiistruniens of the class described may be materially re duced and yet a very strong', durable and practical trame construction ispi'ovided as Well as a traine construction which has by tar greater advantages than other frames ot its class.

ln Figs. l2 and l2n l have shown another iiioditication in which i provide a 'lfraine Gl which may be cast 'from metal by the use ot suitable molds or dies and in which the body ring is toi-ined integral ivth the trame as indicated at Gl, and the ring,Y itl integral vvith the traine as' indicated at Gib, the trame being' provided ivith spaced apertured enlargements or bosses (Sic to take the place et the bolts i6 and nuts e7, the bolts 39 aassing through the apertures in the bosses 61C and also that the tone ring el is termed integral with the traine Gl by spaced vveb structures 61d. In other words with the coi'isti'uction slioivn in Figs. l2 and i2a ot the drawing all of the parts 22. 253. 27, 3%, Lll. di. t6 ano 47 ot' the coi'istruction shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, and, iiiE desired, the brackets 30 and 33 may be all termed integral or in a single unit. and the corresponding' parts of the construction shovrii in F 6 to il inclusive may be corresi'ioiidinalv formed inteo'ral.

The iframe as partially illustrates in Fiets. l2 and i2"l as above set out may be cast or otherwise lorin-ed and preferably die-cast, ot' a comparatively light and yet strong; and durable metal or a metal suitable for 'instruinental purposes, and' While i. have shown certain details ot construction 'tor carrying iny invention into effect. it ivili be understood that l :ini not neces'fsarily liui to these details, and various changes therein and modifications ther-coi. may be made. Within the scopo o'l.i the appended claims. -without deinii'tin'v' 'trom the :stpirit ol my iuvention or sacrificing` its advauitagres.

Having 'i'ully described inv invention what I claim as neu' and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A banjo or" the class described, the parchment supporting' rim o'l which com# prises a continuous circular body provided in the periphery with cireuin'tei'eiitialiy spaced recesses exteuilingr through the top and bottoni 'faces olf said i'iin and ti'ii'iuiujr about the periphery ot the iini, fpaccd sound transmission chambers.

2. A banjo ot 'the class described. thi` parchment supporting iiin oi" which couipi'ises a continuous circular body provided in die periphery with eircuni'lercntially spaced recesses extending through the top and bottoni 'laces ol said i'iu'i and iforiuiui about the peri'ihcrj.' ot the rim. spaced sound transmission chambers, and means tor supporting a parchment in connection vvitli the iur rim in such `manner that the periphery por tion of the parchment extends over and eneloses the upper end portions of the recesses in said rim.

3. An integral banjo frame constructioiji comprising a rim, body ring and resonator iupporting ring.

4. An integral banjo iframe construction comprising a rim, body ring, resonator supporting' ring and tone ring.

5. A rim for instrumei'its of tlie'class specified, coii'iprising a ring-like body having a comparativct wide face travci' horizontal plane of the rim, the per of said rim being provided with cir.v entiaily spaced reces through the. wide lace of the i'im and throug'li the top and bottom faces thereof.

G. A rim for instruments of the class described comjjnisinej a substantially circuiar metal body Vlniving r. comparativeiy wide peripheral face fashioned to 'form circumferentially spared recef i and "ia-like members, the longitudinal plane of said reca and rib members traverfliinp; the l'iorif/iontai plane of the rim, and said recesses openingoutwardly and throupjh the. top and bottom faces of said circular body.

7. A sheet metal. rim for banjos, means on said rim adjacent the upper edpge portion thereof for formingr a seat for a metal parchment retaining ring, a parchment,l another metal ringr cooperatingr with `said first named ring and parchment to provide an all metal mounting: for the parchment, means for adjusting the position of the second named ring for placing the parchment under ten sion, and said rim beine' fashioned to form a. seat adjacent the lower edge portion thereof to provide means'for mounting and retaining a resonator in fixed and spaced relation with reference to said rim.

S. A banjo parchment supporting rim of the class described comprising aV unitary are-shaped body fashioned to form on the outer periphery face thereof concavo-eonvex recesses spaced eireumferentially of the rim, said recesses extendingentirely through the transverse plane of the rim.

9. A banjo rim of the class described comprising` an arc-shaped body fashioned to form on the oi'iter periphery face thereof concavo-convex recesses spaced circumferentially of the rim, said recesses extending' entirely through the transverse plane of the rim, and a metal strip mounted on the periphery of said rim and forminga facing for the contour thereof.

10. A banjo rim of the class describedv comprising an are-shaped body fashioned to form on the outer periphery face thereof concave-convex recesses spaced circumferentially of the rim, said recesses extending entirely through the transverse plane of the rim, a metal strip mounted on the periphery of said rim and forn'ling a `facing;r vfor the contour thereof, and means for securing said metallic strip to said rim.

l1. A banjo frame construction comprising a unitary rim and ring body, and said rim being provided in the periphery thereof *ith circ1ln'iiferentially spaced recesses forming therebetween rib men'ibers, said recesses being semi-circular in form and opening,r outwardly and through the top and bottom 'faces of the rim.

l2. A banjo frame construction con'lpris ing a unitary rim and ringr body, and said rim being provided in the periphery thereof with circum'fereatially spaced recesses forming therebetween rib men'ibers, said recesses beine' semi-circular in form and opening out vardly and through the iop and bot-tom faces of the rim, and a resonator supporting ring` integral with said rim.

Y13. A banjo of the class described, the rim of which is provided in the periphery with circmn'ferentially spaced recesses extending through the top and bottom 'faces of said rim and formimrabout the periphery of the rim, spaced sound transmission chambers, means for supportiner a resonator in spaced relation with reference to said rim, means for supporting a parchment in connection with the rim in such manner that the periphery portion of the parchment extends over and encloses the upper end portions of the recesses Yin said rim, means adjustably mounted in connection with the rim and cooperating with said last named means for retaining the parehn'ient in position under tension, and resonator support-ing' ring` and tone ring integral. with said rim.

14;. A banjo rim provided in the periphery thereof with circumferentially spaced recesses forming' therelietween spaced rib members, said recesses opening outwardly and through the top and bottom faces of the rim, and the rib portions of the rim being; recessed, and a body ring mounted in one of the last named recesses and jn'ojecting' above the top face of the rim.

15. A banjo rim provided in the periphery thereof with circumterentially spaced recesses forniing therebetween spaced rib members, said recesses opening: outwardly and tbroufzjh the top and bottom faces of the rim, and the, rib portions of the rim being recessed, a body ringr mounted in one of the last named recesses and projecting above the top face of the rim, and a resonator' supporting ringv mounted on the other of said recesses and projecting upwardly and radially from the rim to support a resonator of greater diameter than the rim in connection with said rim in spaced relation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this fifth day of June, 1924.

- ROCCO A. CARLUCCI. 

